Napa Cab Heaven, Built for Red Meat
Bellevue · Seattle · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 15, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed III Forks’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at III Forks reads exactly like the room looks — dark wood, big cuts, no surprises. It's a California-forward, Cabernet-heavy lineup built to sell bottles alongside a $60 ribeye, and it does that job without apology. There's nothing adventurous here, but there's a certain confidence in the commitment.
About 95 labels deep, the list leans hard on Napa Cabernet Sauvignon with familiar names like Caymus, Darioush, Faust, Shafer 'One Point Five', and Justin 'Isosceles' anchoring the reds. Oregon gets a token nod via Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, and Sonoma and Paso Robles round out the California story. If you're hunting for Burgundy, Barolo, or anything from the Southern Hemisphere, you're in the wrong zip code. The list is coherent but narrow — it knows its audience and refuses to deviate.
Eighteen options by the glass is genuinely solid for a steakhouse format, with a price range of $12 to $40 covering whites, reds, and a bubble or two. The pours skew toward crowd-pleasing California names, which fits the room but won't thrill anyone looking to explore. Rotation appears minimal — this list has a 'set it and forget it' energy that suggests the by-the-glass menu hasn't changed much since the ink dried.
Faust Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2020 — $XX
Faust consistently overdelivers for its tier — it's Quintessa's second label and carries serious Napa pedigree without the flagship price tag. On a list heavy with four-figure aspirations, this is the smart order for a proper steak night without the regret.
PlumpJack Winery Chardonnay Napa 2020
Most people come here tunnel-visioned on Cab and never look left. PlumpJack's Chardonnay is one of the better-value Napa whites around — rich, restrained, and actually interesting. Order it with the lobster bisque and watch the table reconsider everything.
Caymus Special Selection Chardonnay Napa
At $395, this is the list's most eye-watering line item, and Caymus Special Selection Chardonnay simply doesn't earn that number. The Caymus name sells wine in steakhouses across America, and that brand premium is fully baked into the price here. There are better ways to spend $395 at this table.
Shafer 'One Point Five' Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2019 + Bone-In Cowboy Chop
One Point Five is built for exactly this moment — it's structured enough to cut through the fat on a bone-in ribeye but has the fruit weight to match the char. Shafer's Stags Leap District tannins and that 2019 vintage heat make this the most honest order on the list when you're going big on beef.
The Bottom Line
III Forks is a reliable, if predictable, wine destination for Napa Cab devotees who want something proper to pour next to prime beef. The markups sting and the list won't surprise you, but the core selection is solid and the by-the-glass count earns some respect.
Downtown · Seattle · Brazilian Churrascaria
The real headline here is the half-price South American bottles — available Monday through Thursday, all day, on bottles under $150 — which turns a polished steakhouse into a legitimately reasonable wine night. The list won't excite anyone who came for the wine, but if you came for the meat and want a solid regional bottle at a fair price, this deal is worth planning around.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Active Program
Acceptable
Ballard · Seattle · Italian
A short, Italian-leaning list with most of its bottles in the Old World red section. Order the $11 Montepulciano by the glass, or the $69 Travaglini Gattinara if you want to splurge a little, and confirm prices on the day. This unrated guide covers the posted wine menus, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown · Seattle · Pacific Northwest / New American
A hotel wine list with a Pacific Northwest page up front, Champagne, Bordeaux and Italian sections behind it, and a separate glass list on the drink menu. Start with the $12 Treveri Blanc de Blancs at happy hour or the Mark Ryan 'Goldfinch Tavern Red Blend', and check the current list before you go, since the restaurant says menus are subject to change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list and drink menu, not service, storage or markups.
Lake Union · Seattle · Steakhouse
A long, Northwest-first steakhouse list with plenty of bottles under $100 as well as a $300-to-$550 tier of Leonetti and Quilceda Creek Cabernets. Start with the $20 Five Star Cellars “Prime” Cabernet by the glass, or the same wine at $55 on the bottle pages, and confirm prices because the list says vintages and availability change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Capitol Hill · Seattle · Italian
An all-Italian list that is easy to navigate: 11 wines by the glass from $13 to $30, a bottle list sorted by region, and $8 house wine during Apericena. Order the Soave at $13 or the $17 Kerner by the glass, or the Villa Venti Sangiovese with the tagliatelle al ragu, and confirm prices because the page says they are subject to change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Central District · Seattle · Seafood
A mostly natural, mostly French bottle list that stretches from $60 Muscadet to a $455 Champagne, with a deep run of Jura, Savoie and Loire bottles. Start with the $60 Hautplanty Muscadet or the $72 Laurent Herlin Cabernet Franc, and ask about the list’s ◆ and ◉ key if you want help choosing between classic and wild. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks selection, not service, storage or markups.
· Hoschton · Steakhouse
Jacks is a genuinely fun neighborhood hang with solid food, but the wine program doesn't match the ambition of the kitchen. If wine is your thing, call ahead or bring your own if corkage is an option — otherwise, lean into the cocktails and enjoy the patio. We'd love to revisit this rating if they ever put some real thought into the list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Point · Atlanta · Steakhouse
Malone's earns its loyal following on the strength of its pork chops and tenderloin, not its wine list. If wine matters to your meal, you may want to call ahead and ask what's available — or just lean into a cocktail and let the steak do the heavy lifting. This one's a food-first destination.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Acworth · Steakhouse
AG Steakhouse earns its reputation as a go-to for celebrations and big nights out on Lake Acworth — but the wine program appears to be in service of the experience rather than a destination in itself. If you're splurging on the filet or the Oscar-style halibut, budget accordingly for the bottle too, and don't expect the list to surprise you. A solid place to drink wine; not a reason to come specifically for wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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